About Anthony

Anthony grew up in public housing in the inner Sydney suburb of Camperdown and recognised early-on the need to fight for social justice and equal opportunity in Australia. Anthony has often said that he was raised with three great faiths: The Catholic Church, The South Sydney Football Club and Labor.

This ethos is what led Anthony into joining the Australian Labor Party at the age of fifteen.

While completing a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, Anthony started fighting for progressive change through his involvement with student politics.

After graduating and working with the Commonwealth Bank, Anthony began working for former prisoner of war and legendary Whitlam and Hawke Government Minister, Tom Uren. Tom was integral to the development of Anthony’s political career and remained an important friend and mentor until his passing in 2015.

In 1996 Anthony was elected as the Member for Grayndler in Sydney’s Inner West, where he has lived his entire life.

“I will be satisfied if I can be remembered as someone who will stand up for the interests of my electorate, for working class people, for the labour movement, and for our progressive advancement as a nation…”

Anthony continues to be a progressive Member of Parliament and is a passionate advocate for the environment, workers’ rights, refugees and equality for all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, age, sexuality or religion.

He believes in opportunities for all through education and training, universal healthcare and the need for Government investment in local communities.

His achievements for the people of Grayndler include:

$2 million for the Cooks River to help manage storm water, reduce river pollution and improve water quality

Expansion of child care services including 50 new childcare places at the Infants’ Home in Ashfield

$2.2 million to upgrade Mackey Park in Marrickville

$3 million to upgrade Leichhardt Oval

$2.3 million for the Ashfield Civic Centre

$14.5 million for noise insulation at Fort Street High School

Upgrades to all local schools under the $16.2 billion, Building the Education Revolution program

Funding of $169.5 million for a new integrated cancer treatment and research facility, the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Providing help and support for new migrants and those trying to reunite with their families

Advocating and providing support for disadvantaged people in the local community for over 20 years

Following the election of the Federal Labor Government in November 2007, Anthony became the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Leader of the House of Representatives.

In 2010 Anthony was named Aviation Minister of the Year for producing Australia’s first ever Aviation White Paper. In 2012 he was named Infrastructure Minister of the Year by London-based publication Infrastructure Investor.

In June 2013, Anthony became Deputy Prime Minister, and also took on additional responsibility as Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

In July 2016 Anthony was re-elected as the Member for Grayndler and is currently the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development and the Shadow Minister for Tourism.

Anthony has been playing tennis at Henson Park Courts for The Marrickville Tennis club for over 30 years and is an avid supporter of the Rabbitohs and the Newtown Jets. He is also a strong supporter of the arts and regularly attends concerts and performances in the Inner West, as well as performing across the country himself as ‘DJ Albo’.